Surface condenser



Aug. i2f193o. J. RGRACE 1,772,807'

SURFACE CONDENSER Filed Dec. l2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1930. J. F. GRACE A 1,772,807

SURFACE vcoNDENsER Filed De0 12; 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 12, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN F. GRACE, OF ARLINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WORTI-IINGTON PUMP AND MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F VIR- GINIA SURFACE CONDENSER Applicationfled December 12, 1928.

This invention relates to steam condensers and an object of the invention is to provide a condenser of the surface type having tubes therein arranged in a belt of substantially uniform flow resistance throughout the length of the belt, the tube belt being arranged in folds providingsteam spaces on the inlet sides of the folds and air spaces on the outlet sides of the'folds, in which suitable plates are positioned at predetermined points along the belt of tubes to provide the desired reduction of flow area in the direction of flow of steam through the condenser to obtain the proper velocity for scavenging in proximity to the exit lanes in the condenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide a condenser as specilied which embodies a primary air cooler therein for receiving the air from the air spaces and initially cooling it, after which the air is passed to an air cooler exterior of the condenser for final cooling, thereby permitting maximum reduction of the temperature and consequently of the volume of the air to facilitate its withdrawal from the condenser.

Another object of the invention is to provide meansadjustable from the exterior of the condenser for regulating or controlling the air outlet of the primary air cooler.

With these objects in view, the invention consists in various features of construction and combination of parts, which will be first described in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing a condensery of the preferred form embodying the invention, and the features forming the invention will be specifically pointed out in the claims.

F ig. l is a vertical cross section through the improved condenser.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed section, and

Fig. 3 is a view partly inside elevation and partly in longitudinal section of the improved condenser.

Referring more particularly tothe draw- 45 ings, the improved steam condenser of the surface type embodies a shell l which has its lower portions or half semi-cylindrical in shape while the sides of its upper section are i of reduced radius with relation to the radius JG of the semi-cylindrical lower section l as Serial No. 325,626.

clearly shown in F ig. l of the drawings, providing a condenser of less height than the conventional type of condenser which has the same capacity and tube area.

rPhe shell ly has the usual type of tubes 2 therein and these tubes are arranged in a belt of substantially uniform flow resistance throughout the length of the belt, and the belt is further arranged in folds, providing steam spaces 3 on the inlet sides of the folds and air spaces 4 on the outlet sides of the folds. The air spaces 4 are partly lined with plates 5 to reduce the active length of the lanes to provide the desirable feature of reduction of flow area in the direction of flow through the condenser to provide the proper velocity for thorough scavenging in proximity of the exit lanes of the condenser. The plates 5 make the area of steam exit from a tube bank smaller than the steam inlet area to the said bank and consequently increase the velocity of outflow from the tube banks into the air spaces or exit lanes, thus improving the scavenging action of the condenser.

The lower portions of the inner folds of the tube belt are divided off as shown at 6 by suitable plates 7 to provide a primary air cooler within the condenser and the air from the exit lanes 4 passes through the primary air cooler 6, out through an air outlet pipe 8 and into alinal air cooler 9 which is positioned exterior of the condenser shell l and provides final cooling of the air to facilitate its handling and removal from the condenser.

While in the drawings a particular type of external airl cooler is illustrated, it is to be understood that any approved type of air cooler may be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention. The external air cooler 9 may be connected through the connection 10 with any suitable type of vacuum pump (not shown), for withdrawing the air from the condenser.

Means for adjusting the outlet of the primary internal air cooler 6 is provided which comprises a pair of plates l1 connected in any suitable manner by a connector l2 and placed along the inner air outlet sides of the sections 6 `of the tube belt,kwhich sections form the airl cooler, and in the passage way 13 which communicates with the air outlet pipe 8. The plates 11 have adjusting rods 14 connected thereto which are threaded through the shell 1 of the condenser and are threaded through lock nuts 15 carried by the condenser shell 1 so that by rotation of the rods 1a the plates 11 may be moved towards or from the plate 7 for regulating the sizes of the outlet spaces 16 through which the air passes from the cooling sections of the tubes G into the passage way 13. rIhe rods 1a may have suitable hand wheels 17 thereon if it is desired, and while they are shown in the drawings as rotatable, for adjusting the plates, it is to be understood that any other approved construction for moving the rods 14C and holding them in adjusted positions may be provided without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Itwill be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the specific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that these may be modified widely within the invention :lctined bythe claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a steam condenser, a tube bank arranged in folds providing the steam spaces on the inlet sides of trie folds and air spaces on the exit sides of the folds, and plates along predetermined portions of the outlet sides of said folds for reducing flow area in the direction of flow of steam in the condenser.

2. In a steam condenser, a tube bank consisting of a beltl of tubes of substantially uniform flow resistance throughout the length of the belt, and plates along predetermined parts of said belt for reducing flow area in the direct-ion of flow of steam in the coudenser.

8. In a steam condenser, a tube bank consisting of a belt of tubes of substantially uniform flow resistance throughout the length of the belt, said belt being arranged in folds providing steam spaces on the inlet sides of the folds and air spaces on the exit sides of the folds, an air cooling space for receiving air from said air spaces, and adjustable means for regulating the outlet of said air cooling space.

yet. In a steam condenser, a tube bank arranged in folds providing steam spaces on the inlet sides of the folds and air spaces on the exit sides of the folds, plates along predetermined portions of the outlet sides of said folds for reducing liow area in the directionfof iiow of steam in the condenser, an air cooling space for receiving air from said air spaces, and adjustable means for regulating the outlet of said air cooling space.

In combination, a steam condenser including'a shell, a primary air cooler within said shell, and a linal air cooler exterior of said shell and receiving air from said pri mary air cooler, and means for regulating the Outlet of said primary air cooler.

6. In combination, a steam condenser including a shell, a primary air cooler within said shell, and a final air cooler exterior of said shell and receiving air from said primary air cooler', and adjustable means adjustable from the exterior of said shell for regulating the outlet of said primary air cooler.

7. In a steam condenser, a tube bank consisting of a belt of tubes of substantially uniform Aflow resistance throughout the length of the belt, )lates along` predetermined parts of said belt for reducing the flow area in the direction of flow of steam in the condenser, an air cooling space within said condenser, and adjustable means for regulating the outlet of said air cooling space.

S. In combination, a steam condenser including a shell, a tube bank within said shell arranged in folds providinggsteam spaces on the inlet sides of the'folds and air spaces on the exit sides of the folds, a primary air cooler' within said shell, for receiving air from Said air spaces and a final air cooler exterior of said shell and receiving air from said primary internal air cooler, and plates along predetermined portions of the inlet sides of said folds for reducing flow area in the direction of flow of steam in the condenser.

9. In a condenser, a tube bank having a portion thereof divided off to provide an air cooler, and adjustable means for controlling the air outlet of said cooler.

10. In a condenser, a tube bank having a portion thereof divided olf to provide an air cooler, a plate moveable along the outlet side of said air cooler, and adjustable means for moving said plate to control the air outlet of said air cooler.

11. In a condenser, a tube bank having a portion thereof divided off to provide an air cooler with an air outlet space therein, plates within said space, and means adjustable from the exterior of the condenser for moving said plates to regulate the air outlet vof said air cooler into said space.

12. In a steam condenser, a shell having its lower part semicircular in shape and its upper part with sides curved on a radius less than the radius of the lower part, a tube bank within said shell and arranged in folds providing steam spaces on the inlet sides of the folds and air spaces on the exit sides of the folds, and plates along predetermined portions of the outlet sides of the folds for reducing flow area in the direction of flow of steam in the condenser.

13. In a steam condenser, a shell having its lower part semicircular in shape and its upper part with sides curved on a radius less than the ra dius of the lower par* e tube bank within said shell and arranged in folds providing steam spaces on the inlet sides of the .1'

folds and air spaces on the exit sides of the folds, and plates along predetermined portions of the outlet sides of the folds for reducing iiow area in the direction of flow of steam in the condenser, an air cooling space within said shell for receiving air from said air spaces, and adjustable means for regulating the outlet of said air cooling space.

14. In a steam condenser, a shell having its lower part semicireular in shape and its upper part with sides curved on a radius less than the radius of the lower part, a tube bank within said shell and arranged in folds providing steam spaces on the inlet sides of the folds and air spaces on the eXit sides of the folds, and plates along predetermined portions of the outlet sides of the folds for reducing ow area in the direction of flow of steam in the condenser, a primary air cooler within said shell for receiving air from said air spaces, and a final air cooler exterior of the said shell and receiving air from said primary air cooler.

l5. In a steam condenser, a shell having its lower part semicircular in shape and its upper part with sides curved on a radius less than the radius of the lower part, a tube bank wit-hin said shell and arranged in folds providing steam spaces on the inlet sides of the folds and air spaces on the exit sides of the folds, and plates along predetermined portions of the outlet sides of the folds for reducing flow area. in the direction of flow of steam in the condenser, a primary air cooler Within said shell for receiving air from said air spaces, and a final air cooler exterior of the said shell and receiving air from said primary air cooler, and means for regulating the outlet of said primary air cooler.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature.

JOHN F. GRACE. 

